Welcome Aboard

We’re here to offer no-nonsense advice for illustrators and image-makers navigating a creative career.

Introducing our flagship course...

An 8 week intensive online course with a supportive, creative community...

We'd love to have you aboard!

Illustrate Picture Books

When you're illustrating picture books it's really helpful to be able to remember how it felt and how we saw the world as a child.

#ChildhoodIllustrated is a really easy and useful way to access those memories!

Our shiny new course 'The Picture Book Course' is coming VERY soon. We'll let you know as soon as it's ready.

For now, here's our free gift to you...

Get the #Childhoodillustrated guide (Instant access)

The Sketchbooker's Friend

Our free gift to you. It's a brilliant tool to loosen up your drawing, get back into the creative habit of observational drawing and feel good about what you create.

What's Included?

✏️ A 15 minute audio drawing session with Helen, Katie and Tania

✏️ Our 10 top tips for drawing

✏️ Extra printable goodies for you and the younger artists in your house

✏️ An enthusiastic and engaged artist community over at #walktosee and #goodshipillo

We can't wait to see you what you draw!


Join us on Instagram every Friday 8pm UK time where we draw along to The Sketchbooker's Friend together, live. 
We're @thegoodshipillustration.

Get The Sketchbooker's Friend (Instant access)

Get our free Colour Workshop

  • Unlock a whole new world of colour

  • PLAY!

  • We've included a printable of step-by-step instructions, a glossary of all the colour words and a bit of further reading if you want to really dive deep into colour.

  • Roll up your sleeves, grab your paints and get ready to create your colour palette of dreams.

p.s. Normally this stuff is only available to paying members of our courses, but we're feelin' extra generous 😊 so, HERE YOU GO

Get the Magic Colour Workshop

Attend a Virtual Open Day

 

See what it's REALLY like to study with The Good Ship Illustration.

This is a recording of our recent open day for The Picture Book Course so you get instant access (wahoo!)

See you in there.

Come to our open day! 🚢

Art Club

Helen and Katie (and our Tania in the comments) will guide you through one hour of timed drawings and two-handed prompts to get you out of perfectionism and into making lots of delicious drawings.

Art club is free and absolutely everybody is welcome.

See you there!

It’s at 7pm UK time (nearly) every Friday night on Instagram @thegoodshipillustration.

Art Club

Here We Are

Helen Stephens

Author, illustrator,
picture book maker

Tania Willis

Map maker, editorial & advertising illustrator

Katie Chappell

Live event illustrator

Here you go!

You’d love your creative work if only you could find more time to do it, make more money, and feel confident with what you make.

We believe you do have what it takes, illustration needn’t be scary, and we’re with you all the way, along with the rest of the crew in our online community.

The Good Ship plan to roll out lots more exciting courses and content.

 

Listen to the Good Ship Illustration podcast

Testimonials

'Honestly, it was brilliant! I practiced your accents too.' Emily Powell, UK

'If you are not following The Good Ship Illustration, you should be. These ladies are amazing. They literally walk you thru the steps.’ Jay Tower, USA

'If you haven’t already, follow The Good Ship - so much support and advice out there for illustrators. Looking forward to seeing what they offer in the future.'  Karen Moore, UK

'I really enjoyed the ‘Sketchbookers Friend’ drawing exercise. And the kids can do it too. Such a great thing you are doing, ladies!' Ruby Wright, UK

Hashtag Authentic Podcast

We were very excited to chat to Sara Tasker @me_and_orla about why we started The Good Ship Illustration

SCBWI Online Magazine

Helen caught up with Bridget Marzo to talk about how we all met, and why we set sail on this new adventure

Children's Books North Interview

Helen chatted with Children's Book North about our FIND YOUR CREATIVE VOICE course, our favourite northern illustrators and lots more

Nottingham University Interview

This informal interview is around the subjects of: Fly Your Freak Flag in the Face of Trends and Fashion, The curse of the crowd-pleaser and 'Likes', The Art School System and Community.

Already bought a course?

 

Wahooo, come on in. We're excited to have you aboard!

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